Military History

10th Light Horse with Machine Gun Section ‘B’ Squadron 5.10.1914. Appointed Driver 1.11.1914.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Mashobra’ A47 for Egypt 8.2.1915.
Roll Rank Driver.
Roll Unit Machine Gun Section, 10th Light Horse Regiment.
Cox disembarked at Suez. After a short period of intensive training he entrained to Alexandria, joined Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and embarked for Gallipoli 8.5.1915. He served at ANZAC 3 months before falling sick with Influenza and was taken to the Hospital Ship ‘Ionian’ 29.8.1915. Cox was transferred to Malta and disembarked 29.8.1915. Ten days later he was transferred to HS ‘Huntsland’ and invalided to England 7.9.1915. Cox was admitted to the Southern General Hospital at Birmingham. On discharge from Hospital he joined Egyptian Expeditionary Force and proceeded to Egypt to join his unit 15.4.1916. He marched in to Tel-el-Kebir with the 3rd Training Regiment 15.4.1916 and transferred to the Anzac Mounted Division 8.7.1916. Seven months later after several allocations to different units he transferred from 1st Field Squadron Engineers to 3rd Troop Imperial Mounted Division at Deir-el-Belah 28.2.1917. Cox received disciplinary action at Marakeb after a misdemeanour/ crime 24.7.1917. He was hospitalised at Tel-el-Fara with bronchitis and had his tonsils and adenoids removed 7.6.1918. Cox transferred to 5th Mounted Field Ambulance at Sueilma 26.6.1917 and days later was allocated to the 2nd Field Engineers 4.7.1917. He received further disciplinary action for causing a disturbance 6.12.1917. Cox was admitted to hospital with a septic foot 31.5.1918. He was discharged from hospital, deemed fit for service and marched out with 2nd Field Squadron Engineers at Moascar 10.8.1918. Cox and his unit were involved the assault and freeing of Damascus from the German and Ottoman armies. Cox was admitted sick to the German Hospital at Damascus hospital with influenza 5.10.1918 and discharged 8.10.1918. He was admitted to the German Hospital at Damascus with dysentery 12.10.1918. His condition deteriorated and he was reported to have Died of Disease- in the 13.10.1918. Cox was buried by Chaplain C. W. Francis on 15.10.1918 at the Damascus Military Cemetery, in the grounds of the Hospital, Grave 5. His remains were exhumed in 1921 and re-interred in the Damascus Military Cemetery, Damascus, Syria, Plot D, Grave 2. The site is now known as the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Damascus, Syria.
Final Rank Driver, 2nd Field Squadron Engineers.
Medical Condition Deceased, died of disease.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection AWM P10509.023.001
              Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A02781
              Birmingham University Hospital. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P00189007
              Damascus Military Cemetery. Photographer unknown, photograph source CWGC website

Information Source
AWM P10509.023.001. SS 'Mashobra'. Photographer unknown, photograph source Naval Collection from the Australian War Memorial
AWM A0278. 1Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War memorial
AWM P00189007. Birmingham University Hospital. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced rom the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM CWGC .Damascus Military Cemetery. Photographer unknown, photograph source Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/910/DAMASCUS%20COMMONWEALTH%20WAR%20CEMETERY
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- William James Cox
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour – William James Cox
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA:, B2455 Cox W J


Newcastle Road, Midland Junction, WA.

Associated Images